New memorial for Stephen Oake

THE vandalised memorial stone to murdered special branch policeman Stephen Oake has been replaced. It was outside the flat in Crumpsall Lane, Crumpsall, where the hero dad was stabbed to death during a terrorist raid but it was destroyed by thugs in March.

THE vandalised memorial stone to murdered special branch policeman Stephen Oake has been replaced.

It was outside the flat in Crumpsall Lane, Crumpsall, where the hero dad was stabbed to death during a terrorist raid but it was destroyed by thugs in March.

They smashed the stone into pieces, put them in a car and drove the length of Cheetham Hill to the police station where they threw them at cars in the station compound.

Police and staff at Michael Winner's Police Memorial Trust, which paid for the original stone to be erected, confirmed a replacement had been installed on the same spot as the first one following a quiet ceremony.

At the original unveiling of the stone, family of the murdered officer, colleagues and dignitaries gathered to pay tribute to Det Con Oake.

This time the unveiling was coupled with the placing of a simple floral tribute by Insp Julian Snowball.

Following the vandal attack police launched an investigation. But so far they have been unable to catch the culprits despite a £10,000 reward for information from the Manchester Evening News and Greater Manchester Police Authority. Last month film producer Michael Winner pledged an extra £5,000, bringing the reward total to £15,000 for anyone with information which leads to the arrest and conviction of those involved. It remains unclaimed.

Det Con Oake, 40, a dad-of-three from Poynton, Macclesfield, was murdered by al Qaeda-linked terrorist Kamel Bourgass in January 2003. Bourgass was later jailed for life.

Chris Burrows, chairman elect of the Greater Manchester Police Federation - the body which represents the interests of police officers - said: "I am sure all our members and colleagues will be delighted to hear that the broken stone has been replaced. We hope that people will respect Stephen's memory and it will how remain untouched."